TOMSK, RUSSIA, 2001 Man went alone deep into the Siberian forests to collect wild berries such as blueberries and cranberries. During the trip, however, he unexpectedly encountered an adult brown bear that was unusually aggressive and immediately attacked him. The man had no chance. He was found dead some time later. Almost his entire lower half had been eaten.
The attack occurred during the period when bears are preparing for hibernation and actively searching for food to build up sufficient fat reserves. During this time, encounters with bears are extremely dangerous because the animals instinctively behave more aggressively than usual.
His dead body
The best defense against an unwanted encounter with a bear is prevention. If you plan to enter an area where bears naturally live, it is best to travel in a group and make your presence known by making noise. Never leave food scraps near your campsite. It is also advisable to carry bear spray.
If you encounter a bear but the animal remains calm, never make any sudden movements. Such movements could trigger its natural predatory instinct. It is generally recommended to stand still, speak in a calm voice, and slowly back away. Making yourself appear larger, for example by spreading your arms, may also help.
If the bear begins to attack, curl up and play dead to rule out the possibility of a bluff charge, in which the animal is only trying to intimidate you. However, if the attack continues, it is important to defend yourself with anything you have available. Protect vital parts of your body and try to strike the bear in sensitive areas such as the eyes or the nose.
This photograph of a bear attack victim in Russia was misused in a well-known internet hoax. Someone combined it with two photographs of an Alaskan grizzly hunter, Ted Winiusz, and created a false story about a man-eating bear in Alaska. The hoax began spreading widely through email long before the rise of social media.
